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Lock & Lock Stackable Airtight Container
by Chippytarka
I first bought Lock and Lock form QVC. It wasnt something I saw readily available in the shops, and I was desperate to organise my kitchen cupboard. The good thing about getting Lock and Lock from QVC at the time was just in case I thought they were rubbish, I would send them back, but I never needed to!
This review isnt ... about one particular size of Lock and Lock, just Lock and Lock in general. Firstly, over the years they have come in different sizes from very small to big, different colours and different shapes. They even started to make Lock and Lock for particular items, such as storing eggs, drinking beakers. But they always seem to still make them versitile. Example, having dividers in the boxes that you can take out, Lock and Lock that maybe different sizes but the lsame lid will fit each of them, Lock and Lock being stackable. So many examples! You dont have to store food products in them, you can put crafting items in it, scews, buttons, anything! I use mine for the following:the small ones I would use to store homemade baby food and put in the freezer.Now the kids are abit bigger, I use the small ones for snacks such as raisins.They are small and I just throw them into my coat pocket. Sizes like the 1lt I would put left over food in it and stick it in the freezer. All sized would be used to store foods such as biscuits, flour, sugar, salt etc.
One of the big draws for me was Lock and Locks claim to be water tight. Not bothered so much about water getting in it but more like liquid getting out, such as milk, juice, soup. I would normally taken to work a smoothie in one of the Lock and Lock beakers and it would be thrown around in my bag while wallking to work. Did it spill out and ruin my bag?Nope. All liquids stayed safe and sound when travelling.
I cannot praise this product enough. the simple fact that there are so many copies out there say it all.But for me the original wins hands down.
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Zip Firelighters
by bilbobaginz
We recently moved into a home with a wood / coal burner in the front living room. I've always fancied one, they make the home seem a lot cosier - due to both the added heat of the fire, and the smokey, woody fragrance of the fuel, which resonates through the air vent. The whole image of a wood burner blazing beneath the chimney stack, ... with the cold of winter rattling against the windows, and all the family huddled by the flames, is a very pleasant one. There's a little bit of skill involved of course, when trying to get the fire going. Without a chunk of firelighter I think I'd find it near impossible to get mine lit, even with crisp, dry wood and kindling.
FORM:
The packaging is essentially a thin cardboard box (complete with 'safety information' [flammable, etc] and 'usage instructions' - a 3 step guide to lighting your fire), and a tear-able plastic bag within - containing the firelighters. It is a ZIP product, and scribed beneath the company name is their motto -'the heart of a fire': not the catchiest of statements. These are the 'original firelighter' variety, and the product its self is a grey colour with specks of black embedded inside. Holding the firelighter, you get a fine, gritty substance on your fingers. The smell of the product is strong and petrol-y. It crumbles easily in your hands, so one tablet can be ripped in two. At the end of a bag, crumbled bits will be left that you can chuck into the flame to give your blaze an extra kick.
USE:
Place one or two chunks of the firelighter at the base of your wood burner. Add easy burning kindling on top, whilst leaving an alcove for your hand and lighter to fit through. Light the firelighter - 3 seconds of a match or lighter held to the material will light it, and the flame will gradually spread across the firelighters surface. Once the kindling has caught, add small logs and then larger logs until a substantial amount is present. Shut the door and put the vent fully open until the flames grow large, then bring the vent half / fully shut until the flames reach a pleasant level. You should only need to use one firelighter a night, there are packs of 15 and 30 - so depending on how much you use, that's up to a months worth of material. This product is extremely easy to use. It can also be used to start barbaques and coal fires, using similar technique.
Essentially, this product does the trick, it does what it says on the front. As the packaging tells us, the firelighters are: Powerful, Reliable, and Long Burning. I'm not too sure on the long-burning side of things, they seem to last for a few minutes but this is enough to catch the wood / coal within - maybe it's that I'm burying my firelighter early on in the process and not realizing it's continued to burn. They are certainly powerful and reliable, and that's what counts. A recommendable product.
RATING: 4.1/5
PRICE: £2.50 for a pack of 30.
AVAILABILITY: Tesco stores and online. 18+
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Lock & Lock Stackable Airtight Container
by bilbobaginz
Tupperware has come a long, long way in the last couple of decades. Made from the cheapest, most flexible, least toxic / erodible, most easily formed material available today - plastic - containers like this Lock & Lock Airtight product are now common place in kitchen cabinets across the UK. Back when I was a kid, you just didn't get ... anywhere near the same level of quality, nor the same physical features as these modern varieties procure. They are strong, secure, reliable and long-lasting. But most of all, they're reasonably priced. You can pick up one of these stack-able containers from Amazon.co.uk for £4.50.
FORM:
The container has a capacity of 1 litre and is a rectangular shape (to suit storage and packaged items which need to be kept within). The edges are rounded to increase safety, and the lid bulges slightly outwards to maximise the space inside. The most interesting aspects of the design are the containers air / water-tight seal and innovative 4 x locking mechanism, which clamps the lid securely down on each side. Made from a rugged plastic, the locks contain small slits which clip to lips on the bases sides. They clip down with a fair bit of pressure applied, and un-clip with slightly more finger-power. The whole lid is removable and there are no hinging elements. The entire container is transparent (allowing you to see what is within) besides the seal which is coloured blue and highlights the outline of the opening.
USE:
Due to their accurate, yet basic design, these containers will fit into tight spaces, saving on room. They are especially effective for use in fridges, where the plastic remains completely safe. According to the manufacturer, stacking these in fridges can save up to 40% on space (reiterated by Amazon).
I tend to use my Lock & Lock's for storing raw or cooked meats, and fresh fish. Due to their innovative seal and lock mechanism, no moisture, smell (air) can cross the material - they are 100% tight. Any strong smelling substance can be locked away securely - cheeses, vegetables, sweet snacks, etc. They also make excellent lunch boxes, extremely rarely coming open unnecessarily - if you secure it properly to begin with you'll have no trouble. It might well be difficult for children to open and close the box however, due to the locks - but I'm sure parents and teachers can lend a hand at lunch time.
You can even use them in microwaves and dishwashers, so the material and the design is truly multi-functional - a friend of the kitchen and of the house-wife/husband. The container won't scratch or gradually wear down at the bends, it can be used thousands of time with little to no visible detraction.
Overall, I've had some good use out of my containers and thoroughly recommend them. Sure they may be a bit expensive for some, but the design has been perfected for the function, and the functions / uses are endless. If you're after a multi-use container that can be used everywhere in the kitchen, is safe, secure and long-lasting, pick this.
DIMENSIONS: 20.6 x 13.5 x 6.9 cm
WEIGHT: 454g (boxed)
RATING: 4.5/5
PRICE: £4.50 per 1 litre container.
AVAILABILITY: Amazon.co.uk, and in some super-markets (other varieties / brands exist).
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